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Topic Review (Newest First)

03-31-2009 05:51 AM

Scarl

Grampian 26

Quote:

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sure it may look a little boxey, but inside you have as much room (or more) than most 30 footers.

No, I don't think they are ugly, I'm considering them myself. :-) But they are not the first yacht to come to mind when people think about beautiful boats. Where they really shine is value... they are inexpensive and surprisingly good, fun, and safe boats. I probably should have mentioned the headroom when I posted, but I'm short enough to have standing headroom in a Shark 24 and seldom think in those terms. ha ha

They definitely fit the bill as an easy to sail, small cruiser, that won't cost an arm and a leg.

I'm in the same boat (sic), BRCincy, except I am looking for a small cruising sailboat for this season. I've mainly been looking at C&C 25s and 27s (as I've club raced both and really like them), but the Grampian 26 might fit the bill... they are dead cheap (often under $5k), have roomy interiors, and are surprisingly fun to sail. The only real downside to a Grampian is they are not the most beautiful vessel on the water.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sure it may look a little boxey, but inside you have as much room (or more) than most 30 footers.Here's a site for some good deals on Grampians - index

I have experimental data showing otherwise. You may want to repeat your study with more limber test subjects and/or more secluded anchorages.

03-13-2009 03:45 PM

norsearayder

bigger is better,up to about 32 feet and then you must be strong,i found and iam sure there are many more solid glass 70s boats that have been lovingly taken cared of and refit as nessasasry,with new inboard desiels and many sails and extras bought along the way...thats the deal, get 40000 worth of boat for18000 ...and away u go my 32 is easy to handle and small enough to push around lits more forgiving than a smaller boat and more relaxed in its movement when the wind pipes up...read ,read, study, know what your looking at...good luck

03-13-2009 02:41 PM

Finny

My 2¢:

Girls don't lay down in boats they can't stand up in.

03-01-2009 08:15 PM

Scarl

I'm in the same boat (sic), BRCincy, except I am looking for a small cruising sailboat for this season. I've mainly been looking at C&C 25s and 27s (as I've club raced both and really like them), but the Grampian 26 might fit the bill... they are dead cheap (often under $5k), have roomy interiors, and are surprisingly fun to sail. The only real downside to a Grampian is they are not the most beautiful vessel on the water.

03-01-2009 09:07 AM

gaha_1

Sorry about the spelling on last post short fat fingers

03-01-2009 09:05 AM

gaha_1

I have a bayfield 25'.You might look at on of them they have great line's. Easy to sail.I would look for the biggest one you could find.I sail on Lake Erie.Witch lake are you going to sail.

03-01-2009 08:48 AM

mhartong

I can only second what many have said, get the smallest boat that fits the style of sailing you intend to do. The bigger the boat, the bigger the expenses. You can have just as much fun with a smaller boat as with a bigger boat. If you really want, the smaller boat can be equipped and modified to have many of the same features that a bigger boat has, just on a smaller scale. Plus, when its all said and done, you have more to spend on actually sailing.

02-28-2009 10:41 PM

BrentM

I'd say you're waiting too long and spending too much money. A smaller boat costs less to buy, outfit and maintain and it's easier to trailer and you don't have to buy a big truck to pull it. And it can cruise and anchor in places a deeper draft boat will never see. Nothing on your wish list couldn't be done easily on an 18-24' boat you could buy for under $10k. Possibly well under in the current market.

What do you really need out of the boat? If you're trying to re-create the pleasures of home it can get big, complicated and expensive. I need a comfortable place for two in the cockpit, same in the cabin. Sitting. You can stand in the companionway or on deck. A stove, a sink, a head, storage.

Best bet is to find a small boat that someone has already cruised and figured out what it needed. I bought mine used complete with a suite of sails, all sorts of useful covers, hooks, bags, awnings and a even a dinghy and folding bicycle. Stock it with food and a really good small pressure cooker (you need one, and no one will give a good one away with a boat) and go cruising.

I cruise for weeks at a time in a 20' Nimble. Heck, I'm on it right now instead of waiting three years.

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